Germany's death metal act OBSCENITY has been around for nearly 25 years now, throughout their musical careers they have played shows, released albums, and continue to just do what they love to do making music! Jorg Pirch bassist and guitarist Hedrik Bruns were the one's to discuss the band over the years and plans for the future.
1. Can I get a backstory on the band/ band biography?
Hi Natalie, thans for the interview. So here we go …
OBSCENITY was formed in 1989 with the intention to play brutal Death-Metal. The first sign of life was the Demo-tape “Age Of Brutality”, which was recorded in 1991. The tape got amazing responses in the underground-scene and relevant fanzines. The overwhelming reactions to “Amputated Souls” made a lot of labels get in contact with the band. So OBSCENITY picked out the best offer and signed a deal with “West Virginia Records”, who released the first album “Suffocated Truth” in December 1992. Because “West Virginia Records” dissolved in 1993, OBSCENITY went back to the studio to record a second Demo-tape called “Amputated Souls”. This tape led the way to a new deal with “D&S Records”. In July 1994 “D&S Records” released the second album “Perversion Mankind”. The band split up with the label in January 1996, due to unprofessional work and lack of support and signed a new deal with “Morbid Records” one month later.
In June 1996 “The 3rd Chapter” was released. This album proved that OBSCENITY belongs, without any doubts, to Germany’s leading Death-Metal acts. With “The 3rd Chapter” the band finally found their today well known style, which is the combination of American Death-Metal brutality and European virtuosity. To bridge the time to the next studio album the band produced two video-clips for the songs “Disgrace Over You” and “Schattenspiele”. These two clips and an interview were released in form of the home-video “Whipped, raped… obscene” in December 1996. The two video-clips were also broadcasted on many TV-shows (like “Metalla” on “VIVA-Television” for example).
In the summer of 1997 the band renewed their agreement with “Morbid Records” and recorded their fourth album “Human Barbecue”. Because of the tenth anniversary of the band and a lot requests from all over the world, OBSCENITY decided to release the CD “Demo-Niac” in May 1999. This release featured their two demos “Age Of Brutality” and “Amputated Souls”. One year later the waiting for new material of the band was over. “Intense” saw the light of day. What followed were two successful Headliner-Tours with labelmates HYPNOS through the Czech Republic and Germany. In the fall of 2001 the band returned to the mighty “Soundlodge Studio” to record their most brutal album “Cold Blooded Murder”, including skullcrushing Death-Metal hymns like “The Arrival”, “My Dark One” and “Sleepwalker”.
As with previous albums, this album got fantastic reviews in the Metal media. The album was well promoted on the “No Mercy-Festivals 2002” (with IMMORTAL,HYPOCRISY, MALEVOLENT CREATION, etc.) and as the supporting act for SIX FEET UNDER on their summer-tour in 2003. Some of the outstanding moments in the history of OBSCENITY were: their show on the “Fuck The Commerce-Festival 2001” in front of more than 3000 freaking out maniacs, the mainstage-show on the “With Full Force Open-Air 2002” with more than 20000 headbangers, and “Wacken:Open:Air 2003” to name a few. As the band cracked down in 2009/ 2010, Hendrik Bruns (guit.) starts to renew the band and wrote several demo tracks to shape a new Obscenity dimension.
In 2010 Jeff Rudes from Tampa, Florida joined the band and completed the demo tracks with his ultra growling voice. In the Beginning of 2011 former member and drummer Sascha Knust rejoined OBSCENITY and also the guitar player Christoph Weerts is recruited in the group´s ranks. Obscenity has been completed now by finding a new bassplayer, named Jörg Pirch. After a new Label ( Apostasy Records) was found , Obscenity recorded" Atrophied in Anguish ". The war-machine OBSCENITY is hungrier then ever to reign the Death-Metal world with an iron and bloody fist. After 24 years of pure Death-Metal-Mayhem, the story has just begun. So run for cover and stay obscene!
2. How did you guys come up with your band name?
It was Saschas idea with the name. Once he came up with that name and a self drawing logo. We all totally agreed and Obscenity was born. In 95 the logo has been changed in a few details. And also on the last CD the logo has become a new metallic look.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
To some bands we have good and friendly relations – to other bands respect. We don’t keep rivalries to other bands. We make our own thing and let other bands to do their stuff – at shows, we talk together and have some fun and have some drinks.
4. In just 1 year's time you will have been a band for 25 years, thoughts, feelings, opinions? Do you plan on celebrating?
Of course it’s a very long time but special feelings didn't come out by OBSCENITY because it’s not really important for us…the most important thing is to have fun and to play good sessions together...to mention is, that the longtime experience make professional working possible – during the rehearsals or live-sessions…but perhaps we will plan a surprise – stay tuned!
5. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
OBSCENITY doesn't have any lyrical concept. Jeff writes his feelings, experiences, dreams and so on to a song text, like ordinary problems, etc. In my opinion the lyrical-themes are not so important as the music, but good lyrics are gladly read by me. If I have a booklet with the lyrics, I will read them! By the way, mayor lyrical themes dismal stories from the daily life like torture, violence, betrayal, injustice, sickness, poorness, catastrophes and so on – mostly write down as metaphors. OBSCENITY wants the listeners to think different without to distract from the music.
6. What bands have influenced your band and its sound?
OBSCENITY generally plays death metal in the vein of old school American style with a mixture of modern technical elements…we hear all kind of metal music and so we are influence by several bands – to much to mention! We have surely our own style to play – listen to our albums and you will hear and recognize a recall value – the combination of speed, groove and lead-guitar with few thrash-elements is the characteristic feature of the OBSCENITY-style.
7. Is there any story or concept behind the Atrophied in Anguish title?No, – ATROPHIED IN ANGUISH isn't a concept album – all ten songs are independent-minded. Each song in standing for itself and writes his own story.
8. Who produced Atrophied in Anguish and what was it like working with them?
ATROPHIED IN ANGUISH was recorded and produced at the Soundlodge. Jörg, the producer, knows OBSCENITY for many years, by the way Jörg recorded his first professional album with OBSCENITY! ( Intense) He knows what we want and to work out the recordings with him were professional and funny – he is cool guy, who has experience as a musician and as a producer.
9. Who did the cover art for Atrophied in Anguish and how much input did you have on it?
Our actual cover-artwork was done by Remy/HEADSPLITDESIGN. APOSTASY had the idea to ask this guy. Therefore we had study his artworks and fast determined, that he has got a killer style to design artworks. So we had contacted and told him our album title with basically ideas for the design – with this information he created the cover-artwork and layout for ATROPHIED. He had absolutely free hands to do his work. But it was our idea to bring in the Obscenity Circle in the front cover theme.
10. Select two songs from Atrophied in Anguish and what inspired the lyrics.
The lyrics Jeff wrote are very personal. As said in a few questions before, each song stands for his own. The lyrical themes range from what’s fucked up in the world and how to resolve it, mainly involving mass murder and world war, to anti religion with gore/horror thrown in. In writing the lyrics he tries to write shit that will make those who pay attention to the lyrics think more for themselves.
11. What are your expectations for the CD?
We had no big expectations at this time. The band was broken a few years ago.and renewed with a new cast. We have been excited of course and it was a kind of experiment what will happen to us and how the fans will realize and accept the new stuff. But it works!
12. Do you guys have any new music in the works as far as a follow-up release?
Yes, of course . Chris and I are working hard on the new stuff. We have 4-5 tracks finished in a basic version. And as far as we have finished songwriting , we are gonna practice them until we are satisfied and prepared to a enter a studio.
13. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
The refrain and the melody line . It is the best what can happen to a songwriter when the audience can remember a catchy refrain . It is really important for us to have a musical message and to sound not like other bands.
14. What are your upcoming touring plans?
We have a few gigs and festivals this summer to spring until now. In between we are in writing mode for the new Obscenity stuff!
15. Has OBSCENITY ever played in the States or plan to do so in the future?
It is very sad, but no. we had some offers years ago , but had to cancer because of personal problems but hey, of course we want to… The states are a very huge and exciting market for every band. If someone can mange something like that for us?!?!
16. Out of everyone in the band, who would win in a headbanging or mosh pit contest?
Not special one of OBSCENITY but all together make the show – important is that the audience moshes to our sound and has fun at our shows. It’s a good feeling to see people move to our music.
17. How many band t-shirts, hoodies, beanies, hats, are in your personal collections?
I personally owns 49 shirts, long sleeves and hoodies – most of them were exchange with other bands and have although nice remembering.
18. What makes you guys "NOT" metal?
Trends, fashions, fascism, violence for examples are no goes…don’t hesitate – come as you are and do want you want – but this with respect and correctness to other people and animals.
19. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?In future we plan to have gigs , festivals and perhaps tours. We will see, what the time brings to us. Furthermore we will be concentrated on new material to record the next long player lately in 2014. A few new interesting riffs are done yet – beware and be prepared!
20. Any final words of wisdom?
Thank you very much for the interest in OBSCENITY and for the interview – listen to our new album ATROPHIED IN ANGUISH and keep our scene clean – stay obscene!
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